Reification
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Reification is the process of giving material form to an abstract concept or idea. It is a common device in literature; for example, in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the boar's head that the boys worship might be said to reify their descent from civilization into barbarism. Reification can also take place in politics and law, as social mores and taboos are given tangible enforcement: for example, South Africa's apartheit laws could be seen as a reification of the racism ingrained in that country's society.